Originally Posted by
DLPFlyer22
Myself (Plat) and P2 (no status) are booking a trip but only I will be on the return flight. Normally I would just book a roundtrip and a one-way but I want make sure we are on the same reservation so that P2 can get a Comfort+ seat since it is unlikely that we will get upgraded to first given that it is hub to hub.
What I discovered is that a companion pass would still be less expensive and would solve our problem of being on the same reservation. Any concerns if P2 is a no show for the return flight? I know Delta recently updated their policy. If it makes any difference, I will have a layover on the return flight. To clarify, P2 won't be getting on the return flight at all.
"We understand that plans change. If they do, please cancel or make changes in My Trips or the Fly Delta app before your flight departs to maintain the value of your ticket. For all tickets purchased on or after March 31, 2021, customers who no-show for a flight without changing or canceling their reservation prior to departure will lose the value of their ticket, and we will cancel all remaining flights in the itinerary. "
Welcome to FT! The language you quoted has to do with changing tickets in general; there are further restrictions for using the companion certificate in that, for the most part, both the primary and the companion must fly all segments together. I say "for the most part" because there have been past instances where a primary managed to board without the companion, and I think maybe even vice versa, but also cases where the companion was booted off the flight when the primary no-showed.
You might be better off intending to use it only one-way for both of you, and then trying to change/cancel the return for future rebooking after the fact (not sure how accommodating they're being with this sort of thing for companion certificates)
Some past threads discussing no-showing on the return:
both travelers skipping the return:
Will DL care if a abandon the return leg of a companion certificate fare?
one traveler skipping:
Skipping last leg of an itinerary when one passenger is on a companion ticket
Primary Traveler Not Taking Return Portion of Companion Trip